1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

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toolmanz
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 2:37 pm

1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by toolmanz » Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:19 pm

All,

First time posting to this forum and I hope I picked the right one.

I have a 1977 1 cent that appears to be struck on a blank of brass or bronze.

I think a genuine mint error. I suspect a leftover blank from the striking of another countries coins.

This is what I know:
• Subject coin is golden in color
• No evidence of being dipped or otherwise altered in any way
• Obverse has a cloudy copper area in one area (oxidation...), face is golden in color
• 1977 Canada 1 cent is copper in color and struck in an alloy: 98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc
• RCM struck the 1 cent anniversary of independence (1966-1976) for the Barbados government in 1976
(http://www.coinscan.com/for/foreign.html)
• The Barbados 1 cent coin was struck in bronze.
• The 2 coins – the 1976 Barbados 1 cent and the 1977 Canada 1 cent are approximately the same size in
diameter.
• Both coin relief and raised elements (maple leaf etc.) are very rough and not smooth as found in the 1977 1
cent coin
• The strike seems to be relatively crisp and clean


The only thing I can think of as a possible explanation is:

Hypothesis:
In late 1976 or early 1977 the RCM stopped producing the 1976 Barbados 1 cent coin and began striking 1977 1 cent coins. A blank from the 1976 Barbados 1 cent coin, in bronze, was struck with the RCM 1977 1 cent dies and distributed for circulation.

I welcome your comments and alternative explanations.

Thanks in advance

Tim


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1977 1 cent Canada
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troubadour
Posts: 385
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:46 pm

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by troubadour » Tue Jan 14, 2020 6:48 pm

what is the weight?
you tried an XRF test?

toolmanz
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 2:37 pm

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by toolmanz » Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:49 pm

I did do some measurements on the subject coin but havent been able to copy it in successfully to post.
Let me try again:

Specifications:
The specifications are from official sources:
Measure Subject Coin 1977 Canada 1 Cent(1) 1976 Barbados 1 Cent(2)
Blank material -unknown -98% copper, 0.5% tin and 1.5% zinc -bronze
Diameter: MM -19.15 -19.08 -18.861
Diameter: in. -0.754 -0.751 -0.715
thickness: mm -1.57 -1.5 -1.565
weight: grams -3.2 -3.1 -3.11

Notes: These measurements for the subject coin were taken using reasonably accurate tools. At best these measurements are approximate.
(1) Statistics from https://www.coinsandcanada.com/coins-pr ... 977&years=
(2) Statistics from https://currencies.fandom.com/wiki/Barb ... _cent_coin

That is what I have ..... the alignment does not work in the post preview...hopefully you can extract the info. Table is 3 x 5 and data points separated by -

And what is an xrf test. Noob here.... :Étudiant:
Last edited by toolmanz on Tue Jan 14, 2020 8:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.

toolmanz
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 2:37 pm

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by toolmanz » Tue Jan 14, 2020 7:53 pm

I just looked up xrf testing.....ya no.
Where would one get that done (assuming there are services that provide that service).

Thanks for the idea.

Tim

troubadour
Posts: 385
Joined: Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:46 pm

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by troubadour » Tue Jan 14, 2020 8:05 pm

for free i dont know. you can send your coin to get it certified by pcgs icccs or cccs. they will authenticate it if genuine and will make the test if they have to. $10 to $15 per coin

henrysmedford
Posts: 183
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:44 am
Location: Oregon

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by henrysmedford » Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:33 am

[youtube]https://youtu.be/5fmRfsep450[/youtube]

Just a thought watch the YouTube

toolmanz
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jan 03, 2020 2:37 pm

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by toolmanz » Wed Jan 15, 2020 7:26 pm

Well that youtube video gives you a little to think about. Hmmmmm

I think I will get PCGS or ICCS to do a review of the coin and make it official if at all.

The only thing that keep sticking in my mind is the fact that the surface, unlike the actual 1977 1 cent, is that the relief and the raised portions of the coin are very rough in texture. Not shiny in the least bit as would be expected.

Thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

I'll post back when I get the coin graded....

Cheers
Tim

henrysmedford
Posts: 183
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:44 am
Location: Oregon

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by henrysmedford » Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:25 pm

https://www.flickr.com/photos/23562823@ ... ed-public/

In the link above are some US cents that I have found like yours.

henrysmedford
Posts: 183
Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2013 10:44 am
Location: Oregon

Re: 1977 1 cent stamped on brass or bronze

Post by henrysmedford » Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:38 pm

I and my son went looked at way to many pennies in the past and they show up in all kinds of colors.
Watch the video for some fun.
See—
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/laws-ch ... tlSft3NLdw

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